In the vast, sun-drenched expanse of the Maldivian “blue desert,” a shadow glides with effortless grace. It is an indigo ghost, a wanderer that ignores the boundaries of reef and atoll. This is the Blue shark (Prionace glauca), a creature that carries the deep hue of the open ocean on its back and the spirit of a nomad in its soul. Known locally as Andhun miyaru, its name is a tribute to the dark, smoldering beauty of traditional kohl.
The Architecture of a Marathoner
The Blue shark is a masterpiece of hydrodynamic engineering. Unlike the robust, heavy-set sharks of the reef, the Blue is slender, built for the long-haul migrations that define its life. Its pectoral fins are exceptionally long and scythe-like, allowing it to “soar” through the water column with minimal energy expenditure.
Research conducted on specimen MRS/P0315/88 reveals a specialized physiology: a weak keel on the caudal peduncle that provides stability during transoceanic crossings. These sharks are the ultimate endurance athletes, capable of traveling thousands of miles in a single season.
A Biological Powerhouse
Nature has equipped the Blue shark with a remarkable reproductive strategy. They are among the most prolific of all large sharks. As a viviparous species, they nourish their young via a yolk-sac placenta—a complex biological connection similar to that of mammals.
While many sharks struggle to produce more than a few pups, a single Blue shark litter can explode with up to 135 young. This high productivity is a vital buffer for the species, which faces immense pressure as the most heavily fished shark in the global ocean.
The Maldives Mystery
The waters of the Maldives hold a specific secret regarding this species. Observations reveal a profound sexual segregation in local populations. For reasons scientists are still unraveling, the males and females of this species rarely cross paths outside of mating grounds. In the Maldivian blue, the population is an almost exclusive “bachelor’s club”—with 95% of recorded individuals being male.
Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Long, conical snout and scythe-like pectoral fins. Deep indigo-blue dorsal surface fading to pale white ventrally.
DIET: Opportunistic predator of bony fish, squid, and occasionally sea birds.
REMARK: Known for extreme long-distance migration; 95% of Maldivian specimens are male.
SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Prionace glauca – Globally assessed as Near Threatened.
- Marine Research Centre, Maldives: Specimen Archive MRS/P0315/88.
- FishBase: Species Summary – Blue Shark (Prionace glauca).
- Compagno, L.J.V. (1984): Sharks of the World. FAO Species Catalogue.
- M.R.S. (1997). Fishes of the Maldives. Marine Research Section, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Republic of Maldives.
